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Family Circus Inspiration Dies; Procession Follows Winding, Dotted Path

The inspiration behind the worst comic strip ever passed away this weekend, bringing what could only be considered the sweetest relief known to humanity: The inability to read Family Circus.

Thelma Keane, wife to Family Circus creator and habitual bore Bil, died of Alzheimer's disease. She was 82. Bil said she was the inspiration for the "Mommy" character in the strip and looked so much like the character that she would often be stopped and asked how she lived with that kind of pain.

Sadly, Bil continues to produce the Family Circus with his son, Jeff, and the thing appears in 1,500 newspapers. People say it a lot when someone passes away, but this time they're going to mean it. Mommy is truly, thankfully, in a better place.


Comments

 

Chris said:

"Worst comic strip ever" ... come on.  I used to love reading it and following that dotted line around the strip when I was a kid.

May 26, 2008 11:04 AM
 

Mom2Two said:

I agree with Chris.  I loved Family Circus.  There are so many other worse comic strips.  Zippy, anyone?

May 26, 2008 12:02 PM
 

Susannah said:

Snuffy Smith is worse.

May 26, 2008 2:31 PM
 

steffmarcusky said:

Y'all don't have "Mallard Fillmore" apparently, because that is the most disgusting right-wing filth I've ever read. Taking in a little family-friendly lameness like "Family Circus" is nothing.

May 26, 2008 4:54 PM
 

Sue said:

Wow.  I can't wait to read what they say about you when you die.

I get that it's the web, but is nothing sacred?

May 26, 2008 9:55 PM
 

Sue said:

Hey, I'm not the commenter above! I didn't know there could be two of us with the bizarrely unusual name of "Sue."

Your criticism of The Family Circus is pretty harsh, Mike. We all know that the worst comic strip ever is "Curtis." TFC is, however, runner-up.

May 26, 2008 10:02 PM
 

BettyWu said:

TFC is terrible, terrible, terrible moralizing pap.  Still, it might not be as bad as Marmaduke.  

May 27, 2008 1:13 AM
 

La Reveuse said:

Dude.  A cup of coffee.  A shot of whiskey.  Heck, two.  Maybe a blow job?  

(I'm not offering, I'm just sayin'.)

You need something to fix that attitude.  Cripes.

A woman died.  Her family and friends loved her.  Have a little respect.

May 27, 2008 9:34 AM
 

BBBGMOM said:

What La Reveuse said.  Sheesh.  Why would you take time to insult a new widower about his work?  And then state the deceased is "in a better place" because she doesn't have to be around for anymore Mommy comparisons??  WTF?  What's the purpose of this?  Put yourself in his shoes.

May 27, 2008 10:16 AM
 

Sherry said:

I've read a lot of shitty posts here on Babble, but this one has to be the most vile ever.  So you don't like that cartoon.  Don't read it.  A woman died and you take cheap, nasty potshots at the family and the man's work for no reason other than you probably think you are funny. Pathetic!  Hope someone says something equally nice about you the next time you have a death in the family.

June 2, 2008 8:05 AM

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